A few weeks ago a reader asked about tips on having a suit altered. As often happens, this came up in the comments to a post – some of the best information is in there!
I always recommend having a suit altered of course, if you have bought it off the rack. A couple of small changes to the waist of the jacket or line of the trousers can make a huge difference to the overall look.
In this hugely popular post from 2009 I went through how to buy a suit if you intend to have it altered, and then some possible alterations. Today, I want to run through some top tips on the process. Please add your own in the comments if I don’t cover them.
1. Avoid cutting the buttonholes
The buttonholes on a sleeve are one of the biggest barriers to having a suit altered. If they are working buttonholes – so the cloth has been cut to allow the button through – then the sleeve can only be shortened or lengthened so much before it starts to look silly. The buttons either get too close to the end of the sleeve or too far away from it.
This is why bespoke tailors, particularly Anderson & Sheppard, usually only had two of the buttonholes working. It meant you could alter the sleeve if you handed the jacket down to your son or nephew. Of course, you can alter the sleeve from the shoulder as well, but this is more expensive, harder (easier for a poor tailor to mess up), and impossible on checked jackets.
So when you’re buying a suit to be altered, check whether all the buttonholes have been cut. Ideally, one or two of them won’t have been. And if there’s any chance of the suit being handed on, then leave one or two of them uncut.
2. Bring in things you like
Having a suit altered is almost as difficult as commissioning a bespoke suit in terms of style. How narrow do you want the trousers? How short do you want the sleeves?
An easy way to guide the tailor is to bring in a jacket you like the style of. They will get a good idea of the required measurements that way, or even why you think the sleeves are narrow, but aren’t that much. Perhaps the lapels seem too broad to you, but it’s more a question of the narrowness of the shoulder.
Another good idea is just to remember the measurements you like, in numbers or short hand. I know the sleeves of a jacket should always stop at my wrist, for example, while the shirt stops at the base of my thumb. And my trouser measures are 1815 – 18-inch knee and 15-inch bottom. Not a difficult date to remember if you like your history.
3. Remember which brands have good inlay
If you’re going to make any part of a suit bigger, you require inlay – the excess material on the inside of seams that allows them to be expanded.
The amount of inlay varies surprisingly between suit brands. There’s no end to the ways brands will cut costs if they can, and getting rid of inlay is one of them. You wouldn’t think it saves any money, but on thousands of suits it does.
There’s no easy way to check for the amount of inlay, but if you have one suit altered and the inlay is good, remember it. (And if anyone has come across brands that had very poor inlay, please let us know.)
4. Don’t do too much
Losing weight and having suits altered is great. It will make you look better as well as feel better. But don’t do too much.
You can usually take four inches out of the waist of a jacket before it starts to fundamentally alter the look. Ideally it shouldn’t be more than two or three, but it will vary with styles.
When considering how much the look of the jacket is being changed, run your eye up and down the side of the jacket – from shoulder, through waist, to the bottom of the skirt. That should be a smooth and elegantly flowing line. Get too much altered – or a too-sharp nip of the waist – and the line is ruined.
5. Alter the waist and the legs, not the shoulders and the waist
A reader mentioned this point on the previous post, but it bears repeating. When you have a choice between a pair of trousers that fits on the waist or one that fits on the legs, go for the former. (Equally, pick a jacket that fits on the shoulders rather than the jacket waist.)
Think about what is easiest to change. The waist of a pair of trousers is a lot more complicated than the legs. There are curved seams, there is lining, there are pockets that could look weird. Legs are just one long seam.
Pictured: Hardy Amies ‘Signature’ bespoke jacket and trousers being fitted. Cutter Will Adams behind. More on the service when it re-starts later in the year
Simon, one of the things I see so often is young men who’ve had their coat waists altered to become ridiculously tight like a corset. Fitted does not mean tight. If it’s touching your waist it’s tight. Especially the lower back.
A warning: If a shop salesman pins the centre back seam (to shape the waist), run. I’ve seen this many times! The side seams shape the waist. The centre back seam is more complicated and best left to bespoke tailors. Avoid at all costs in rtw alterations.
Good call on both counts. Thanks Mac
Simon, interesting point about A&S only have two working button holes. I can see how this would make it easier to lengthen the sleeves but presumably it wouldn’t make much of a difference if the sleeves needed to be shorten (assuming the working button holes were those closest to the end of the sleeve, unless the reduction in sleeve length was so extreme that those button holes could be chopped off entirely).
Good point, no they couldn’t be shortened much. I suppose subsequent generations tend to have longer arms not shorter
Simon, forgive me if I have overseen a text passage or comment which treats the theme of shortening sleeves which makes me very unhappy:
I asked a Swiss tailor a RTW Purdey tweed jacket in regular (R) to shorten its sleeves (sleeve shirt length 31″). She removed its four buttons and justified cutting only one buttonhole and repositioned in distance of half the diameter of the one remaining button removed from the sleeve cuff edge by saying the sleeve fold ended too short for more buttons with buttonholes? ?
I’m completely confused! Which two of four sleeve buttons get holes cut and why?
The bottom two. So the top two can be moved to the bottom if the sleeve has to be lengthened
But Simon that means the jacket sleeve, if shortened, MUST be shortened to AT LEAST a length BEYOND both cut buttonholes, exacter, BEYOND the higher of the two lower (the second from the lowest) buttonhole! Nothing between is possible!
If the two upper of four buttons had their holes cut, again this would compel limitations to possible shirt length shortening.
I really don’t understand why A&S does two buttonhole cuts.
Apologies, I didn’t read the original question above before replying. Places like A&S only cut two buttonholes to make it easier to LENGTHEN the sleeve, not shorten it.
It doesn’t help at all with shortening, but generally when you pass down a jacket to the next generation, they are more likely to have longer arms than you, rather than shorter.
This is the point I have made above, at the beginning of this sub-thread. I can’t follow the English of ‘Reader’ above to understand what his question is.
It should be noted that in many cases, the false stitching of non-functional buttonholes cannot be removed without leaving a mark. This depends partly on the cloth and partly on how dense the stitching is.
More ! More of this sort of thing , please!
For those of us who can only admire but not partake in bespoke this is the closest we get to actually doing what you write.
Having recently , for the first time , had suit trousers tapered I found it can disturb the overall balance.
Would be good to get more in depth piece on alterations
I.e. What is actually done
For example having seen a ‘simple’ sleeve shortening being done I was surprised at the effort required.
Rabster,
I thought I would comment on your point about trousers being tapered. Were they pinned on the side seam or the rear panel. I say this because I have had trousers before tapered and it does not look right (ok on jeans) what my tailor does now is pin and reshape the leg from the rear all the way down. Then takes them apart re-cuts and puts back together. This keeps the front flat and as it should be but slims down the legs from the rear to stop them sagging. This is done because I have quite a shallow rear and thighs. But maybe a solution for you too if you have had a problem with them being just tapered.
This is much more difficult though and does require a very good tailor as you are effectively re cutting the pattern. Not to a bespoke standard but much closer to it in skill level required (my tailor ex ex Poole).
And what you said about sleeves. I was shocked about how much goes into shortening a shirt sleeve or just narrowing them. I pay more for narrowing and shortening a sleeve than I do for the whole trouser thing mentioned above.
Thanks Adam. I’m a bit confused though – you could only taper the legs by using the seams on the outside or the inside of the leg, surely? The bum could be altered with its central seam, but that would only alter that?
its a bit difficult to explain in text, if i could draw you a picture it would probably be clearer. i used to have them tapered by someone else who just tapered the one seam. Basically what happens now is the whole trouser is deconstructed re-cut and put back together. it works for those like me who basically have no bum and shallow thighs on the rear because the back panel is essentially made smaller. if i have legs just tapered it just does not look right and can end up either looking too slim and tight, causing pocket flare or skinny lower leg and baggy up top so i look like i have too much in my pockets.. i know you have a “prominent seat” so not really an alteration that would ever be suggested for yourself!.. i have the opposite problem essentially. (that cost about £25-£30 depending on the trouser itself how much lining etc that needs to be taken apart)
Cool. It sounds like they are altering from both sides effectively – central and side seam on the seat, and perhaps both side seams on the legs. Definitely a bigger process but more control possible in the result
Comments are making this seem more difficult than it is to actually do. Since I do alterations for menswear, particularly for anyone who does not have much of a rear end, essentially the rear waist to crotch seam is pinned to take out the excess fabric, the back waist to crotch seam is re-drawn, the inseams are opened knee to crotch to knee, the back of the inseam is pulled forward, sometimes as much as 2″, then the inseam is resewn, after which the crease down the back of the leg needs to be re-pressed, as it has been pulled forward by this operation. Difficult to describe without a drawing, but actually easy to do.
Only rarely can a sleeve be shortened from the top end, as it usually tapers and is smaller in circumference than the armhole. Lengthening or shortening jacket sleeves with cut through buttonholes can be difficult if not impossible. Cheers to all!
Elva, sounds very interesting!
I would rather understand it better if there were the possibility for you to draw it?
And perhaps send it to Simon? who in turn could post it? Simon?
Cheers to All!
It is interesting, yes, and happy to post.
However, I would generally go with Mac on this – such complicated alterations are usually worth avoiding. I’m sure Elva will do it well, but most will not.
Shortening a sleeve from the shoulder needs a bit of arithmetic as the reduction at the sleeve head and underarm is not equal. It is quite easy to get about 1″ off the length.
This is problematic as a method on patterned cloth, as what may be quite well matched before shortening will of not be afterwards.
This may be completely off piste, but reading your advice about jacket sleeve lengths and the issues about buttons, I couldn’t help think what is the point of buttons on a jacket sleeve at all? I know they’re decorative but what purpose do they serve other than that? And is there any real purpose to having them fully functional? I have a number of bespoke suits and take a definite pleasure in knowing the button holes work as they should, but does anyone ever open them anymore? Or did they ever?
They were originally used to open the sleeve of the jacket and fold it back, just as you would do with your shirt. They were sometimes called surgeon’s cuffs for that reason – so a surgeon could roll them back and not get blood etc on them.
But no, no one uses them anymore. I do like them as an aesthetic detail though… It’s a nice change in texture to have horn on the cloth. A bit like hardware on a bag.
A good alterations tailor will shorten the sleeves from the shoulder. A not so good alterations tailor would make a total hash of trying.
Hi Simon – ounce you please provide the name(s) of a good alterations tailor? Thanks
I use Graham Browne….
Apologies, Simon. I’m fairly certain this has been asked and answered on another post, but I’ll be damned if I can find it.
When shortening a jacket sleeve (in this case a sportcoat with working buttons), what would be the minimum distance you’d be comfortable leaving between the final buttonhole and the sleeve? I’ve just received a new jacket, but as I live in Mongolia I’m about 1,000 miles from a decent tailor (the closest is probably Brio in Beijing), and I’d prefer not to ask a local hack to tackle a potentially tricky alteration from the shoulder if I can get away with it. I’m sure it’s subjective, but of all the subjective opinions I expect yours is among the most sensible 🙂
Good question. I must live with a one-button sleeve practically at the sleeve cuff’s edge because the tailor probably only does wpmen’s clothes.
Ha. It’s now almost three years later, and I just stumbled on my old comment while seeking out the answer to the same question, about the very same sportcoat.
I eventually had the job done by a laughably inept seamstress in Ulaanbaatar who butchered the cuffs of my jacket by simply folding over the hem and sewing the bulky, lumpen, unattractive arrangement in place, making the buttons non-functional in the process. I couldn’t bring myself to let it go so I’ve been carrying the jacket around the world with me since 2015, unworn, until tonight I pulled it out of the closet and decided to restore the original cuffs. I’ve spent the last three years learning my way around a needle and thread, so if I screw it up I only have myself to blame.
I once heard that the buttons were first attached on the sleeves of military uniforms to discourage the rank and file from blowing their noses using their own jacket sleeves. That doctors used functional buttons later seems a humorous repurpose rather than an original use. Though perhaps the prior story is a legend.
Don’t bother with extensive alterations to a RTW garment. It’ll never pass for bespoke and you might even ruin it. Worth altering: waist or sleeve length on jkts. Waist, fork/seat or bottoms for the trousers. They’re the fundamentals of fit. Nobody will critcise you for wearing RTW, but they may laugh loudly if your sleeves are down to your knuckles!
Mac
Surely the reason for altering a RTW is to get it to fit better, not to make it pass for bespoke!!
A good alterations tailor would also be able to adjust bridles, shorten coat length, sleeve pitch etc as necessary to get a better fit.
Good point regarding motive of RTW alteration, Nick. After this turmoil I believe I’ll never buy TTW jackets requiring sleeve shortening when the sleeve buttonholes are already cut and
in case of RTW jackets with too long sleeves without buttonholes be content merely to have the sleeves shortened without buttonholes cut.
Hi Simon,
A very practical post! I hope Incognito will take time to read it and the comments as well!
John
This is an off topic question, Simon. I wonder whether it’s really worth buying the kind of unstructured Summer jackets usually made by Italians – Boglioli comes to my mind – which lack even the slightest free floating chest piece. Obviously, they seem suited to the Summer heat, especially when made in cotton. But would it be a good reason to skip a defining characteristic of a decent middle range jacket for mere suitability?
John
Sort of following on.. Could I possibly trouble you for your option on this jacket..
http://www.mrporter.com/en-gb/mens/thom_sweeney/grey-curzon-slim-fit-wool-blazer/522960
I have just bought it.. (Bargain Mr porter price £430) I wanted your opinion on its versatility. I have seen it in person before and it has canvassed front piece but completely unlined and lightly Constructed. It’s not the mid grey blazer I was after but it is quite an open weave with white / light grey flecks. And very soft shoulders. I wanted it for chinos trousers and the smartest of jeans. It’s a shame there are 3 flap pockets instead of patch.
I obviously have to get my Tailors opinion on the arms as I know they will be too long. (Thank god for Mr ps excellent return terms) But i wanted your opinion as I said on its versatility.
It looks nice, and will be great with pale trousers particularly.
Personally I wouldn’t wear it with jeans (it’s a bit too dark and not quite casual enough in the material) but smart chinos would be good.
Thanks for this excellent article. I would like to suggest the following. Choose your alteration tailor well, after 5-6 attempts I finally found one of a good standard. The cost in getting there was high: many poor sleeve alterations and a few ruined suits and jackets (bad waist alterations). Another tip is try one garment at a time, then only one item will be ruined if they are no go good. Also on a first visit or on complicated alterations record what the finished measurements should be…then each party is covered should there be an unexpected outcome. Sleeves are a particular problem, Tom Ford now completes all jackets with an unfinished sleeve – in house tailors then cut to length and add shams and buttons, if only all jackets came this way! Altering at the shoulder, with a good tailor, will usually give a better result as many shams leave a mark after removal, particularly on fine cloth. As Inkster points out this is not recommended for checks etc. as the pattern then moves. For jacket/coat waist alterations beware of taking too much out of the rear side seam – it can shorten sleeve movement. For trouser waists, unless weight has dramatically altered it is best to err on the side of too big; heat, digestion, imbibing etc. can alter the waist in hours, always better to have some room for expansion, once altered and too tight the trousers will always be uncomfortable. Lastly wear appropriate items for the alteration – match a business shirt to a jacket to get correct sleeve length and look and for trouser shortening wear correct footwear; a business suit should have trousers that fall correctly over business shoes (not weekend trainers), a pair of jeans might best be cut to length with the boots often worn with them. This will give the tailor the opportunity to correctly and sympathetically match alterations to the best and most appropriate item. A good tailor should be prized (as with good mechanics and barbers), let them know of your hapiness on a job well done, they will appreciate it.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you very much for these additional invaluable pièces of advice!!!!
Really worth knowing too!
John
Thank you for the excellent post.
I was wondering wether the waist on trousers could be lowered, too? And if so, to what extent this might be possible? Thanks!
No easily Phil. You’re effectively recutting and remaking the trousers at that point too.
Have you ever has sleeves narrowed. I have just bought a thick brown basket weave blazer for the winter and even with a sweater the sleeves look a little loose. I know when I have the length shortened it will help but curious about slimness. Obviously not too slim just a bit of fat trimmed
Yes that’s quite possible. Not quite as easy as trouser legs, but not far off
Is it also possible to have sleeves taken out? I’ve just had a jacket sleeve altered in length from the shoulder and as a result it’s now slightly too tight on the upper arm. There appears to be some inlay on the arm seam closest to the body
Thanks
It should be, yes, but likely not by much
Thanks Simon.
That’s what I was warned by somebody – I believe it was the salesman or director at Oliver Brown – that shortening the jacket sleeve at the shoulder makes it tighter?
It can do but it’s unlikely. Depends a lot on how it’s been made
I recently had my first bespoke suit made in Takahashi Tailor of Tokyo. They insisted I forego working cuff buttons, at least for the first suit, so the cuff buttons ended sewn on top of the (unopened) sleeve.
They suggested I better wear my first suit for a while to make sure the sleeve length is right, before taking it back to cut the working button holes. I have no intentions of unbuttoning the outermost button to “show off” my working cuffs, so it’s not a big deal in terms of utility. It’s just that odd feeling of having “fake” buttons that are just for decoration, instead of authentic ones.
Have you had any similar experience in the UK?
Not with any tailors, no
Dear Simon –
Was hoping to ask you about getting rid of suits. Have checked around and there is no clear points I could find on this topic. I have 3 suits that are all Ermenegildo Zegna. They all have pleated trousers ($200/alteration) and one of them is a 3button that I need to have altered to 3roll2. Lastly, they are all striped – subtle, but striped nonetheless. Do I ditch the suits or get them altered? They all need to be taken in as well so total cost is going to be $350 – $400 / suit at my tailor. Hate to get rid of them but there might be so many strikes that it will be better. Sorry to impose this question, but curious to get your thoughts. Suits are in near perfect condition, but have these definite flaws I’ve mentioned. Thank you.
I think it’s a question of whether they still fit your lifestyle, whether you need them and what the alternative is. Those alterations are all cheaper than a new suit
Hi Simon,
I am rather curious on your bespoke experience Will & team at Hardy Amies. When can we expect a more in-depth appreciation?
Best,
Mike
No time unfortunately. They have now discontinued the service in tried….
That’s unfortunate. Was rather curious about HA’s bespoke service. Off-topic: do you have any insights (first-hand or via wider network) on the tailors on Lamb’s Conduit? Am particularly interested in the services of Connock & Lockie – there is not much recent information on the web. Thanks! Mike
No sorry, nothing recent
Hi Simon, nice post! I have a question about buttonholes. In your experience, when removed (non-working) will there be a mark left behind by the stitches? Someone suggested I just add the extra buttons on lengthened sleeves =/
Not normally, no
Hi Simon,
You say that one should go for the pair of trousers that fits on the waist because the alterations to fit on the legs are easier.
1. I do not understand where exactly these alterations have to be best made to fit on the legs. Is it on the one long outer-seam (here I believe there is going to be a problem with the front pockets namely the opening is going to become smaller plus this will move the fold of the leg to the outer side) or on the inner-seam (crotch and downwards, which will move the fold to the inner) or on both of them?
2. Is it not easier to go for the pair that fits on the legs and then let the waist out? Are there then the pockets which were standing out flattened?
3. I am having currently a few pairs of trousers that need to be altered on the waist and on the legs (thigh) because I have lost some weight and because I want the hems slimmer (hem from 46cm to 40cm). How do you think this can be done?
4. Someone told me once that if I take the waist of a pair of trousers in then the pockets will stand unflattering out of the body. In this regard how should trousers fit?
Thanks a lot for your response in advance.
Hi Christos,
I think a few broad points answer these questions:
– The area that is really the hardest to alter is from the hips down to the crotch. The width of the legs can altered, as can the waist, but it is this area that is going to cause most problems to the pockets and other aspects of fit, as you highlight
– All these changes should be small. If you have trousers which are basically two sizes too big or too small, or have become so after a change in weight, then you will probably end up distorting the fit or the position of the pockets and so on
– In terms of how alterations should be done, there is little point me explaining it here. Any good alterations tailor should be able to do that correctly with no involvement from me, and it is not easy to explain briefly in text
Thanks for your answers Simon.
I understand that it is not easy to explain briefly in text, nor is your point explaining alterations. Certainly I am addressing alterations on one size bigger.
But Following might help me as well.
Do you think that a pair of trousers:
– One size smaller on the waist
– Fitting perfect on the legs
– With the pockets standing up a bit
– But with the pockets and waist fitting perfect one size bigger
will flattening the pockets as well when led out on the waist?
It might well do, yes Christos. But I’m afraid it’s hard to be certain without seeing them in person
Hi Simon,
Thanks to you as always for your excellent advice and information. I’m struggling to find a good alterations tailor in London.
Are you still using Graham Browne, Atelier Colpani or someone else?
Thanks,
Ross
Still Graham Browne. Always good to use an actual tailor that makes garments if possible
Simon
Is there a alterations tailor that you can suggest in central London? Anyone in soho or mayfair? Would be highly useful! Even if someone you haven’t used, someone that you have heard of?
Best
George
I use Graham Browne, in the City, but otherwise there’s no one I would mention no
I used Khan at K&S Tailoring to fix something Kilgour couldn’t/wouldn’t. He was well recommended to me by the former A&S Tailor who set up on his own as English Cut.
It was a long time ago – 10 maybe more years but the address was 13 Savile Row Lower Ground floor. Price struck me as very reasonable.
I recommend Khan as well, he’s very good.
Thomas Mahon – couldn’t remember the name of ‘the former A&S Tailor who set up on his own as English Cut’, but having remembered, felt it rude not to come back and mention him by name, especially in light of him recommending me a good alterations tailor. Actually Khan lists his skills on his letterhead as including ‘remodeling’.
Hello Simon
Can you recommend a good alterations tailor in central London. I bought a Belvest off the peck suit that needs a few alternations.
All the best
Stephen
I use Graham Browne, near Bank in the City
I bought a very nice second hand wool-cashmere blend suit (from eBay of all places) with working button holed sleeves (“surgeons cuffs” as I’ve heard said). Fortunately I found a tailor who did a very nice job of shortening them at the shoulder. It was pricey of course, but overall worth it for this suit!
Anyone here a resident of Munich (Germany) that could recommend a good alterations tailor? Thanks. M
Hi Simon
I just got a suit that I love the cut and feel of, but need the arm length altered. I want to preserve the look and cut of the sleeve cuff (which has a tapered finish) so I am looking to have it altered at the shoulder. I have asked for it to the done (reattached) by hand? Do you think this is necessary? What the difference between having it done by hand or machine. Does sewing it by hand help with setting it as perfect as possible? I have read stories on various blogs discouraging people from shortening sleeves by the shoulder because it is very tricky and needs a lot of skill. I can’t see any other way to do it without changing the look of the cuffs.. Do you have any recommendations? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
It is hard, and you have to accept some risk in doing it. And yes it is generally better if done by hand, but I wouldn’t press the issue. The important thing is they are happy are comfortable to do it from the shoulder.
Dear Simon,
But I cannot imagine a tailor or seamstress would not be “happy” to shorten a jacket sleeve at the shoulder?
You write the width or breadth of the jacket shoulder has priority over the jacket waist. My girlfriend advises me since I got fat around my waist (now I buy 36″ waist cotton trousers knowing they will shrink) to buy jacket size 40 instead of 38. Yes, it’s true the single vent behind doesn’t spread and the closing button in front isn’t in danger of popping and stress creases/folds radiating out from the closed button don’t arise with 40, but maybe the shoulder width/breadth is more?
Hi Simon,
Is it true that you cannot lengthen trousers with turn ups?
Having just looked at some of my turn ups, there aren’t any inlay……
Is this the norm??
No, there will usually still be some inlay on the inside, but that doesn’t mean there always is – particularly on anything not tailor made
Hi Simon, I have two tweed sports jacket inherited from my grandfather, who died in his 90s – he wore flannels and tweed suits and sports jackets every day. I’ve thought of getting them adapted to fit me, as it would be thrifty but more importantly, a great way of remembering him. They fit perfectly on the shoulders, and could be taken in at the waist. However, they have those really pronounced lines between shoulder and sleeve – “sleeve head roping” as far as I understand it, typical in Britain and Ireland, but these – as pieces from the 60s – 80s, are even more pronounced than in current northern jackets. I know that you discuss shoulders in suits here
https://www.permanentstyle.com/2016/03/which-house-style-suits-your-body-shape.html
but my main question is, do you think a tailor could adapt the shoulder / sleeve to make them more Italian? Remove all that shoulder padding, and put in a softer shoulder, without losing length on the sleeves? In body type, we are / were similar, except for waist. If they could, would it be expensive (could it be done for the sterling / euro equivalent of, say, $200-$250)?Thanks so much, David
Hi David,
This sounds like a lovely idea, but it would be hard to adjust the shoulders in this manner. It would depend on how the shoulders had been made originally, and whether any marking would be evident once they were changed, given their age. I would suggest talking to a tailor about it, but not hope too much. Also bear in mind that other things create that Italian look, such as width of the shoulder, and that is even harder to change.
The waist, on the other hand, should be a cinch.
Hi Simon, I think that’s a good idea. Apart from taking in the waist, do you think a tailor could probably do would be to reduce the shoulder padding a bit? Would that be feasible, do you think? Thanks, David.
It’s really hard to say David, but suffice it to say it’s going to be hard, more expensive, and unpredictable
Thanks again Simon, I’m sure it will be all of that! I’ll see what a tailor says and go from there.
David, the first time I phone Gieves & Hawkes in my life several years ago the saleman on the phone emphasized the roped shoulder of the G&H jackets, which you want to extract.
Hi Peter, it must seem counter intuitive and strange. But remember, G&H are bespoke Saville Row tailors; what I’m talking about are RTW tweed blazers from the 1980s, and they’re not really comparable. I wouldn’t mess with something of Saville Row quality. The shoulders of a SR suit are, I’m sure, quite lovely. But in these pieces, the combination of large shoulder pads and the roped shoulders makes for a style that isn’t exactly what I like nowadays. I already have six suits with a more Northern European shoulder, and am curious about something with a more Italian, softer shoulder. But, I think that I’ll probably have to leave these sports jackets as they are, adjust the waist, and perhaps reduce the shoulder padding a bit if the tailor thinks it’s possible. Thanks for your help, David.
Hello Simon,
I have a quick question. How many inches can you take in at the waist for a double breasted jacket? Your help is much appreciated
It doesn’t make much difference that it’s double breasted. You’re just limited by not changing the shape of the jacket, so same limitations there as single breasted
Hi Simon,
Do you have any experience altering back centre vent versus side vents? I just bought a vintage harris tweed jacket made by Chester Barrie for Harrods from the 80s which has . It fits perfectly on the shoulders, sleeve length, and jacket length/blance is perfect. However, the waist was too wide and so it was very “boxy”. My tailor is taking in the side seams but stopping above the vents in order to stop the lower parts of the vents flaring out/gaping. Some advise only taking in the centre seem if there is side vents, but my tailor feels this distorts the jacket. I have gone with his advice and look forward to the result. Do you have any experience or thoughts on this?
Many thanks!
I think that makes sense – taking in the centre vent can be a little distortionary. I’d also advise generally against trying to take it too far and beyond the original style of the jacket.
See how the alteration comes out, and wear it a bit, before thinking about any other changes
These days man “off the rack” men’s clothes come in small, Medium, Large etc. I’m 172 cm 5’8″ and ideally I’m a 42 short. However finding someone who stocks short fittings is becoming harder. I get annoyed when I’m told “we can shorten it for you”. A jacket that is too long in the first place has the button and waist too low for my body, so when they shorten the bottom of the jacket and the sleeves, it still doesn’t fit as it should, despite all their assurances. Shorten sleeves from the cuff, when the buttons indicate it should be done from the sleeve to me is wrong, and this jacket had a slight check in the pattern so altering the sleeve at the shoulder is fraught with difficulties. Shortening the bottom of the jacket can put the pockets a little out of balance.
I recently saw a jacket I liked it was $900 and although they had a ‘short’ fitting is a few sizes not mine, and for the sake of a sale they tried to convince me that they could alter it. For $900 I’d rather get one that fitted perfectly in the first place.
Hi Simon, I just bought a casual RTW summer sports jacket (100 % cotton, only the sleeves are lined). The sleeves need to be raised probably an inch. It has three buttons (working buttons, aping bespoke), and they’re fairly close to the cuff. It probably needs alteration at the sleeve head, would you think, which is pricey (the price quoted by the tailor that Drake’s uses in New York is $120 for alterations at the sleeve head, which is half the price of the jacket.) I hit upon a solution: since it’s a JCrew variation on the French chore jacket, I think that perhaps it could do without sleeve buttons entirely. I was interested in that interpretation of the ultra knock-about summer jacket, which might make sleeve buttons superfluous. Thanks, David.
Thanks David. Would you not have to shorten the sleeve by a lot to be above the buttonholes though? And if you weren’t, you’d have cuts in the cloth
Hi Simon, you and the tailor I consulted are right – one would have to shorten too much; the only way is to shorten at the sleeve head. I’ll return this one and live to fight another day, and will be wary of sleeve issues in future. Thanks! David.
Simon,
The sleeves were cut a bit too short on a couple of my sport coats. My mistake – I insisted that the tailors do it this way. Nothing tragic, just by a half inch or so. Now, the sleeves tend to ride up (more so when they’re not freshly pressed, given that the fabric is a wool-linen mix). Could the jacket sleeves be lengthened? They have working cuffs so I guess the only option would be from the shoulder. Not sure if there is enough extra material – although the tailor said there is (he said the jackets could easily be let out in case I gained weight, so he was likely referring to the waist area). Should I bother with what seems to be a complicated/expensive operation?
It’s likely the sleeves can be lengthened, yes, particularly if the tailor said so. But you’re right it’s complicated to do.
It depends how much it matters to you – perhaps a good way to gauge that, is whether having the wrong sleeve length puts you off wearing them completely?
Hi Simon,
Do you have any recommendations on where to get a jacket altered in London. Had a made to measure jacket done but the collar sits back from the shirt leaving a gap. I think this is likely to be quite a challenging alteration and needs an expert tailor to do it. Do the tailors on Saville Row do alterations (I would be embarrassed to ask them to alter a made to measure suit!). Many thanks for your thoughts.
No, they won’t alter other people’s work.
Try Graham Browne instead, I’ve always used them for my alterations, and they are bespoke tailors. However, do be aware that that might be difficult alteration, as you say, without sacrificing other areas of the fit. It will depend on how much gap there is
His Simon,
I had a dinner suit made with flapped pockets last year. In hindsight, I should have chosen jetted pockets. Is this something that is easy to alter to produce a good finish?
Many thanks.
Yes, it should be. At the very least, if they are well made the flaps should tuck into the pockets and be almost unnoticeable. Then you could just baste them closed. But a tailor might also be able to take them off.
Hi Simon,
Are there any ways to alter a shirt? I have a bunch of bespoke shirts from Luca and Turnbull. I’ve gotten a bit broader in my chest from working out over the years. Would adjusting the darts help? Or would that only change the waist?
Thanks
You can change a shirt a lot, but really only to make or smaller in the body, not bigger. The darts would only affect the waist, yes
Hi Simon,
Do you think it’s possible to alter the rise on a pair of trousers? I have a pair that was made a bit too high
Not easily, no. Think how the side pockets and back pockets would have to move. Id avoid it
Hi Simon, I had a suit made by biagio granata. Not happy and its really too tight (high) into the armpits and across the back in between my shoulders. So much so that it actually makes the cloth fold over the collar slightly. I’m sure you understand what i mean.
If you want to know why i took it away when it was like that, the last time he was in london and he presented the suit i pointed out the problem and he took it away with him and posted it to me. (im not sure he actually made any changes)
Originally he promised to be coming back in Jun, but now he is only coming on 20July.
Quite frankly im a bit fed up of the whole process, it started in Aug2017 and nearly a year later and its just been really tiresome. I guess this is the downside of visiting tailors from abroad.
Question, shall i just take this to Graham Browne to get sorted? Is it the kind of thing they can do and somehow will I finish up with a suit that still has balance a proportions etc..
(by the way i asked all along for the suit not to be to skinny or tight fitting with plenty of room in the shoulders but it hasn’t really come out that way)
Oh dear. I know others have had similar issues as well.
It’s hard to say without seeing the suit whether it could be corrected, but I’d say it’s perhaps worth saying to him you won’t pay the final amount unless he can correct it? Might focus the mind
Failing that and assuming it is the kind of thing that can be done by Graham Browne, do you think its a sensible option to ask them ?
Yes, particularly if it would be wasted otherwise
Just bought my first sport coat from (NM Online, Ermenegildo Zegna), there are no sleeve buttons. What am I supposed to do with them? It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad that I have to ask.
Hi Simon,
is it possible to replace the collar of a jacket or overcoat? Meaning is it something easy to do for a tailor or will he hate me for that? I would like to ask my tailor to replace the collar of an overcoat he made for me with a collar more broad. Only the collar no changes at the lapels.
It’s not easy, but it is possible. Much easier if you keep the same shape but want to change the material (eg because the collar has worn out). It’s also dangerous to change the shape of the collar and not the lapel, given how much they need to be in harmony
Thanks Simon,
good to know that it can be replaced when worn out.
The particular overcoat i want to modify has the type of collar which is narrower than the lapel. And the lapel itself is horizontal at the top, like on your Cifonelli navy-cashmere overcoat. It seems to me that it would be much more or at least equally harmonic if the collar had the same broadness like the lapel. I would not change the height or opening of the collar, just width of the collar.
Besides i believe that it would take out some of the formality it has right now plus it would add some warmth.
You think it’s possible?
Possible, just not easy at all. I can imagine a tailor not wanting to do it
Sleeves should always be altered at the shoulder never at the cuff it will spoil the sleeve’s cut, I do not hold with all the rubbish I’m told about shorting a sleeve at the cuff, it is only because most haven’t the skill to do a proper job so opt for the easier option. I once took in a jacket to have altered, started with four buttons, ended up with one, I will never just trust these so called Tailors again, and always ask, How do you do it? And walk if I get the wrong answer.
Thanks. I agree on altering from the shoulder if the tailor can, but how does shortening from the cuff spoil the sleeve’s cut, if the buttons are unaffected (either because they are not working ones or because the alteration is small enough)?
I’m not too sure how this thing works but I feel so strong about this issue I feel I must have a say, I’m fed up being told by mostly woman No it has to be altered at the cuff I have had training. at the cuff the sleeve is usually straight then bellows at the elbow? if it is cut at the cuff as mine was I could see the shape was destroyed and I lost three buttons ending up with only one, I gave the new jacket away after that, now I ask where do you alter from? If I get the wrong answer I walk. No point in some long drawn out correspondence on this one. I know what I’m talking about.
I’m sure you do.
I alter from the sleeve wherever possible
Hi Simon,
when is altering the sleeve length from the shoulder not possible? Given of course a skilled tailor.
I could imagine that it might be more difficult at a shirt shoulder because of that stitching of the shoulder fold also on the face of the shoulder. I don’t know.
My first three bespoke Jackets need actually some sleeve shortening. They are a bit longer, because back then i was wearing my shirt cuffs pretty wide. I think you also mentioned somewhere having a similar issue. And because of functional buttoning the only solution is from the shoulder.
I never really went with that wish to my tailor, but, i still remember how his blood pressure raised when i asked him once, ‘theoretically’ of course, if shortening from the shoulders is an option. By the way, it is the tailor who made the jackets and which i still visit for most of my commissions.
Now that i am more confident that the sleeves need to be shortened i am planing to go and ask him for it. That’s why i would like to know when it is not possible. Not that i am insisting on something not possible.
Believe me i can fully understand any tailor not wanting to change anything on something they have made. It is something like an offence for them.
I don|t know if there is a solution with some kind of gauntlet cuffs, besides from the shoulders.
It’s just something that’s a lot of work, particularly compared to doing it from the cuffs. Your tailor might not want to do it or charge for it, for that reason.
I’d also not want a tailor who didn’t make that style of shoulder to necessarily alter it. Otherwise it’s fine
A good tailor would never shorten a sleeve from the top. sleeves are cut to match the armhole of the jacket body. If you cut off the top of the sleeve at the top it will no longer fit the armhole the same. It may also change the angle the sleeve hangs off the coat. They are built like a working joint that allows you to move. Taking from tha top of the sleeve changes the movement of the sleeve and the armhole. You have a smart tailor.
Simon,
i fully agree with you, i also would not let another tailor do an alteration on the shoulders.
And certainly is it something the tailor can charge for.
I will ask him …
Hello, Simon.
Is there an article on London’s best suit alteration shop?
There are quite a few recommendations in the ‘Clothing resources’ post
Hello! Been following your blog for a couple years already! Great stuff! Unfortunately can’t stretch to bespoke, and I cringe at paying 700£ for a jacket so im bargain hunting in tk maxx! I was wondering which tailors would you suggest for jacket alterations? Earlier it was Graham Brown, but as far as I understand they do bespoke only?
Graham Browne used to do alterations, they don’t do much now.
I’d recommend Pinnas & Needles in Soho – not bespoke tailors, but a high quality of work.
Hi Simon, I tried a very nice RTW suit (from a good house/brand) in a great price but the jacket was large at the front (below my chest). Is it something that a tailor can fix? the salesperson said that they cant do that but not sure if he is very knowledgeable. Thanks for running this great site!
If it’s the level below your armpits, so it can be adjusted through the side seam, it shouldn’t be too hard
Thanks Simon!
Hi Simon, I have a vintage moleskin jacket that fits well but is a little tight in the armhole (at the armpits) but is ok in sleeve width. The chest is relatively large so it’s just the armhole. Are you aware if enlarging the armhole slightly is something alteration tailors can do?
If they can it won’t be easy. I would take it to a tailor if you can and ask them.
I like your advice about bringing a jacket and trousers that I like the style and measurements of, so the tailor would have a good idea of how I’d like to have my suit altered. My husband and I are attending a wedding of a good friend of ours next month. Since he lost a lot of weight, his suit does not fit him anymore. We’re planning to take the suit to a suit alteration service soon, so maybe it would be wise if we find a jacket that fits him well as the tailor’s guide. Thanks!
I read that tapering the sleeves from the elbow is an easy alteration (with nonfunctional buttons). Is that correct?
Also, I’m unsure how much gap should be between the shirt cuff and sleeve hem. Do you have a hint or a rule of thumb like 2 fingers or whatever?
Thanks.
Yes, it’s not too hard an alteration.
The amount of shirt cuff you show is slightly a matter of style and personal choice. But it usually varies between a quarter and a half inch
Thanks.
What I meant with my second question wasn’t how much shirt cuff to show but how to determine the right sleeve cuff width and how much space is “normal” between one’s wrist and the sleeve. Any tips for that?
Your sleeve cuffs vary quite a bit in the style series breakdown between the different tailors. I think it’s easy to say if a sleeve is too big at the wrist but I find it difficult to determine if it’s still good or already too tight.
Ah I see, sorry.
Space in a shirt cuff varies between makers a fair bit. Some Italians, for example, like a cuff that is tight to the wrist, even tapered to the end to help this. It’s one reason Agnelli wore his watch over his cuff.
Personally, I have just enough room to enable me to wear my watches without them interfering with the free flow of the cuff. As they are not that bulky, I find this works well.
Hello Simon, what is an appropriate distance between the hem of a jacket sleeve and the first buttonhole? I have unusually long arms, so when I extend the sleeves to fit my arm, this distance ends up being around 2.5–2.75 inches on ready-to-wear suits. Since many companies with even decently good fabric now only offer working buttonholes, at least where I live, it’s not possible to move the buttons. Can anything be done for this issue on existing jackets—or should one learn to live with this, hoping that it’s not an extremely apparent and visible part of a jacket?
You really want more like 1 or 1.5 inches.
You can add an extra button?
Simon, can you recommend a London based finisher capable of sewing Milanese buttonholes, please?
I can’t no, sorry. I don’t really ever interact with the outside finishers tailors use
If you take in the side seam of a jacket, does the tailor have to tighten the whole side evenly from the bottom to the top or can you also narrow a part of it, like taking away some material at the side of the shoulder blades?
Yes, the alteration would usually start from nothing, expand into the desired alteration, and then shrink back to nothing again.
Dear Simon! I found a nice 172A styled Ring Jacket Blackwatch with Moon fabrics. Im not fan of shoulderpads. Any experiance with removing pads or is it just a hopeless project that won´t turn out good?
It’s certainly very risky – the angle of the shoulder is likely to change, making the fit quite off fundamentally. I’d avoid it